The Seljuqs: Politics, Society and Culture

Christian Lange and Songul Mecit

Abstract

Despite the many important developments and innovations traceable to the Seljuq period (fifth–seventh/eleventh–thirteenth centuries), the Seljuqs remain one of the understudied Muslim dynasties. This collaborative exploration of the Seljuqs' achievement contributes to the growing interest in this pivotal dynasty. The various chapters cover a representative geographical spectrum, from Central Asia and Persia to Iraq, Syria and Anatolia, and address novel questions such as the ideological foundations and ritual expressions of Seljuq power, the mutual attitudes of the learned classes and the Selj ... More

Despite the many important developments and innovations traceable to the Seljuq period (fifth–seventh/eleventh–thirteenth centuries), the Seljuqs remain one of the understudied Muslim dynasties. This collaborative exploration of the Seljuqs' achievement contributes to the growing interest in this pivotal dynasty. The various chapters cover a representative geographical spectrum, from Central Asia and Persia to Iraq, Syria and Anatolia, and address novel questions such as the ideological foundations and ritual expressions of Seljuq power, the mutual attitudes of the learned classes and the Seljuq state, the organization of space, and the relationship between nomads and the settled peoples. The book is divided into three parts: the origins of the Seljuqs, their gradual transformation into a powerful dynasty, and their concepts of political legitimation; the social history of the Seljuq period, particularly with regard to the 'ulama' and the urban populations; developments in religious thought, jurisprudence, belles-lettres and architecture under the Seljuqs.